Ruddell to step down from The T

Fort Worth Transportation Authority (The T) President and Executive Director Dick Ruddell has announced his retirement at day's end Oct. 4, 2013. Ruddell made the announcement Monday, Sept. 16, during a meeting of the The T's Board of Directors.

Ruddell has been president/executive director of The T since February 2003. Along with expanding regional bus service, Ruddel has overseen planning and dvelopment for TEX Rail regional rail service. Last month The T announced its 27-mile first phase of Tex Rail will link downtown Fort Worth, Grapevine, Tex., and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

"Dick Ruddell positioned the Fort Worth Transportation Authority to grow from a primarily bus-based transit system to a regional transportation agency with a 100% natural gas powered bus fleet, park and ride service, vanpools, Molly the Trolley service, the Trinity Railway Express rail between Fort Worth and Dallas, and later this decade commuter rail service," said Board Chairman Scott Mahaffey.

Said Ruddell, "With the recent announcement of the first phase of TEX Rail from downtown to the DFW Airport, this is a logical time for transition of leadership."